AN historic clock tower at a former cotton mill is marking the passage of time again after being out of action for more than a decade.

The clock at Eagley Mill in Bromley Cross, which now houses luxury apartments, has been restored by a management agency running the complex after a residents' committee decided that it would restore character to the area.

Management agent Darren Norris worked with an electrician for two days to get the clock ticking again as the final touch to the Eagley Mills development.

The clock tower had all its original workings removed during renovations to the mill several years ago, and the mechanisms were replaced with more modern electronic devices.

But these were not activated until residents raised the issue with Mr Norris. He says he spent "many hours" in the clock tower during the work and the biggest problem was locating the fuse boxes for the electrics.

Mr Norris, who runs the Complete Property Management firm, which is employed to look after the site, said: "The clock has always been here, and is quite central to the character of the site, so to have it working again is great.

"Residents had asked me to look into the possibility of getting it up and running, but I didn't realise how difficult it would be.

"We have none of the original plans for the complex, and the fuseboxes are hidden everywhere. It took a lot of investigation to actually find the breakers. It's good to know a small bit of history has now been restored. I live on the site myself and have to say it does add to the character."

It is believed that the clock originally had four faces, but two were removed in the development of the complex, which has more than 250 flats. The two faces which can be seen today are the original ones, which were kept to maintain the character of the 200-year-old industrial site.

The 35-acre complex opened in 1999, when its tastefully-refurbished penthouses and split level apartments were priced at from £72,500 for a one-bedroom flat to £200,000 for a penthouse suite.

Work started on the three mills there - Valley Mill, Brook Mill and Bridge Mill - and the schoolhouse in 1997. All 163 Valley Mill flats, which are just a short walk from Eagley Cricket Club, were quickly sold. The development also includes riverside cottages.

The Grade II listed buildings are set in a wooded area and were designed by architect Steve Taylor.

The Eagley Mills School was built in 1851 and officially listed in 1997 after Bill Knowles, a pupil at the school in the 1930s, wrote to the Government urging them to protect the dilapidated building.